2007 Saab 9'3 — MOT failures & pass rate
51,939 MOT tests on the 2007 Saab 9'3 are in this dataset, and 74.3% of them passed. That is 2.7 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.3%) and lighting & signalling (10.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 3,657 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.2% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (27.3% vs 24.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.7% in 2021 to 24.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.3% | 6,920 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 5,519 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.2% | 4,247 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 3,012 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 2,639 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,440 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 3,657 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,976 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,687 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,584 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,583 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,502 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.7% | 15,419 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.2% | 14,100 |
| 3 | Brakes | 26.8% | 13,902 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 6,992 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.9% | 6,203 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 5,768 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 302 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,970 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 9,753 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 15,390 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 12,947 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 10,555 | 29.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,631 | 27.3% |
| Petrol | 25,300 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,068 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 11,995 | 25.2% |
| 2023 | 10,314 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 8,512 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 7,050 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 9'3
On a 2007 9'3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2007 Saab 9'3s pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 51,939 2007 Saab 9'3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Saab 9'3?
Suspension, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.6%).
Does the 2007 9'3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,939 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.